Folding- fibe escape laddee



(No Model.) 6 Sheets- Sheet 2.

- F. W. HOPELE.

FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

No. 29:1;319. Patented Feb. 2 1884.

I 777/ Q WM4 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

. F W. HOPELE. FOLDING FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

e No. 294,319. Patented Feb. "26, 1884.

was nmwunmn mr, Washinglon. v.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

T. W. HIOFELEQI I I I FOLDING FIRE ESG'APE LADDER. No. 294,319. Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

in) Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet s. 1-". W. HOPELE.

FOLDING FIRE'ESGAPE LADDER.

' No. 294.31. atented'Feb. 26,1884.

&

w :ZTFO'LDING FIRE ESCAPE LADDER. No. 294,319. Patented-Feb. 26, 1884.

.2 UNITED ST TES.

' PATENT OjnFIcf I FERDINAND w. HOFELE, on NEW YonmnssieNon To EBEN s.ALLEN, on

LAROHMONT, N. v.

FOLDING FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,319, dated February26, 1884.

' Application filed April 17,1882. (-N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND W. HOFELE, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of .New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Folding-Platform Fire-Escape, of whichthe following is a specification. I

My invention relates to a new and improved fire-escape tobe permanentlyaffixed to the outside of any. building, and connected with the windowsor other outer openings thereof, in which escape a continuous ladder iscombined with a series of platforms, with railings, pulleys, chains, andother devices, and with a water-supply pipe having convenient outlets,and which detailed parts, combined in and operated together as thesingle fire-escape, arecapable of being folded up, after use, quickly,securely, and compactly against the building, and thus is provided anabundant, safe, and ready means of escape of many persons at once fromfire in a building, together with means of quick supply of water at anyor all sections of the fire-escape, and at same time are avoided thepractical objections pertaining to all fire-escapes invented or used upto the present time.

In the drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents afront view of thefire-escape, showing it in position for use, with the counterweightchains to top of building, and answer-. ing as guide lines also. Fig. 2,Sheet 1, is a front view of the same, showing the .escape closed upagainst the building, and the lowering-chain running from the bottom ofthe ladder to a smallbox, where secured. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a side viewof the same, showing the escape thrown out ready for use, and thecounter-weights at the top and the outlets in water-pipe at every story.Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a side view of the same, showing the escape closedup against the building and the counare plan views of the same, showingthe pipeor hose connected with the ladder; Fig. ,13, Sheet 4, is a sideview of the escape-platform with the rail, showing how platform isconnected with the ladder and the side rails and upright post, with thewater-coupling to all' the floors. Fig. 14, Sheet 4, is a plan view ofthe same, showing the iron floor (in this drawingof sheet-iron) rivetedto the side rails of the platform, and the coupling on ladder-post.Figs. 15, 16, Sheet 4, are views of the eye-plates to fasten theplatform to thewindow-sills and to hold the escape in place. Figs. 17,18,Sheet 4, are eyebolts to be fastened in the wall of building to holdthe platform in place. Fig. 19, Sheet 5. is a side view, showing thecurve at 'top of the ladder, with a pulley-block and endless chain, thecross-brace to give stiffness required, and the counter weight chains.Fig. 20, Sheet 5, is a front View, showing the counter-weight chains atthe top and the bracing at rungs to give extra stiffness where thechains are operated as guide-chains, Figs.2l-, 22, Sheet 5, are face andside views of the extension-pulleys, showing how they can be fitted toany thickness of wall by means of one fitting within the other, and howthey keep out storm and cold. Figs. 23, 24, Sheet 5, are inside views ofthe extension-pulleys, showing Fig. 23to fit in Fig. 24, and showing(Fig. 24) the solid plate to be placed on the ins1de of the building tokeep out storm or cold. Fig. 25, Sheet 5, is a face view'of bars orrungs which may be built in connection with the fire-escape, to providemeans of escape from all windows. Fig. 26, Sheet 5, is a plan view ofthe bar or rung, showing how it is put in position, and the spacebetween the wall of bullding and the bar, to furnish good hold and foot:ing for those using same to reach fire-escape. Fig. 27, Sheet 5, is anenlarged sectional View of the extension-pulley, showing one part to.fit in the other, and both held together by two or more bolts. Fig. 28,Sheet 6, is a side view of the bottom of the ladder, showingconnectingcoupling for the water, with a point at the under side, to fitin a hole on the sidewalk or ground, to relieve the strain when underpressure of .water or otherwise, and to give extra security.

up and down with the greatest case. They are usually at the top ofbuilding, but can be put at any part. Fig. 32, Sheet 6, is an enlargedview of the lock-hook used to secure the escape flush with the buildingwhen not in use, with the chain fastened to the hook, run over a pulley,and down to its handle in the lockbox on the wall of building. Fig. 33,Sheet 6, is an enlarged front view of the lock-hook, showing the chainrunning down into the box, the handle by which to pull it, and the smallbox itself fastened to the building and built light, so as to be easilybroken, if necessary. Fig. 34, Sheet 6, is a view of the counterweightboxing, which is to be of common cast iron pipe, so that thecounter-weight cannot be interfered with by driving nails or otherthings into the wall. Fig. 35, Sheet 6, is a plan view of the same.

In the case here presented in the foldingplatform fire-escape isexhibited a long continous ladder constructed either of side posts madeof pipe or of anykind of shaped iron, so as to give good strength to theladder, and having pipe or hose B B on the sides, with an outlet, 0, toeach floor, so as to have water when needed, with folding platforms'D ateach floor, having an upright post, E, bolted to the platform and to theguard-rail F, so as to give safety to persons coming out of thebuilding. The guard-rail is bolted to the ladder or to the pipe,whichever may be required. The platform is bolted to the eyes G, thatare secured to the window-sills or to the wall of, building, and theplatform is floored over with sheetiron, or with iron in any formrequired, and riveted to the side rails of the platform. The ladder hasat its foot a foot-coupling, H, to make a connection with the hose ofengine. On the side of the lowest platform are fastened the ladder-hookJ and spring J, to lock the ladder and escape to the wall of buildingand keep the fire-escape in place. At the end of the hook is fastened achain, K, which runs over a pulley, L, then down to the box M, with ahandle, N, so that when wanted the handle can be reached from the groundby any person. section of the escape. The box securing handle and end ofchain is made of light material, so that in case of loss of key the boxcan be broken open to pull chain and quickly lower fire-escape.

At all the windows of building there may be placed wall rungs or bars,as are shown in the drawings and hereinbefore mentioned, to afford suremeans of reaching fire-escape, no matter how many windows therefrompersons may be.

At the top of the escape are two counterweight chains, S S, fastened inthe top of the ladder and run over extension wall-pulleys R It, whichare bolted together by bolts It, and at the ends of the chains are heavyweights Q This ladder-hook may be placed at any Q, to counterbalance theescape. These weights are inclosed in an iron box or pipe, T, so that noone can interfere with them.

To give stiffness to the ladder, I have the curve U braced from theupper end of ladder with the brace V, so as to give strength, also, incase anything has to be hoisted or lowered.

At the upper end of the ladder I have a pulley, Z, with an endlesschain, X, and hook X.

As there will be considerable side strain from the counter-weights, Igive extra stiffness to the upper end of the ladder by putting in'theside braces, W W, which are fastened to the upper rungs.

Operation: The platform fire-escape is held up in its place by aspring-hook and wallcatch, and a chain is carried from said springhookto any point desired on wall of building below or above where end ofchain in a common handle is inclosed in a box. \Vhen the fire-escape isto be used, a pull of the chain by the handle raises the spring-hook,and the fire-escape will by its own weight .fall outward; but thecounter-weights at the top prevent its falling too heavily. When theescape is in position, the ladder-foot resting on the ground or thestreet surface, persons can come down from any floor, and the firemencan connect their hose, so as to have the water on all floors at onetime. Vhen no longer required and not in use, and the building is notdestroyed, the fire-escape can be put back in its place by any person bysimply raising it and throwing it against the wall, where the springhookwill spring over the wall-catch provided.

The box in which the handle of the chain is kept should be made of lightmaterial, so that in case of loss of key a blow will break it open, andno time will be lost in letting persons down.

. Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fire escape comprising folding platforms D, uprights E andhand-rails F, and a ladder, one upright of which ladder is formed of awater-supply pipe.

2. The combination, with a ladder adapted to fold up against thebuilding, of the platforms D with the upright posts E and rails F,substantially as set forth.

3. In a folding-platform fire-escape, the combination of theextension-pulleys R and bolts R, substantially as described, and for thepurpose set forth.

4. A fire-escape comprising folding platforms and a ladder, one uprightof which ladder is formed of a water-supply pipe, as and for thepurposes set forth.

FERDINAND W. HOFELE.

\Vitnesses:

SAMUEL P. COOHRANE, J. PREssLY FLEMING.

